Hadley Mountain Fire Observation Station

Hadley Mountain Fire Observation Station is a fire lookout tower built from steel that rises about 42 feet above the mountaintop in the southern Adirondack Mountains. The structure sits at an elevation of about 2,680 feet and from there offers wide views across the surrounding forest and several lakes in the region.

The tower was built in 1917 and was one of the first ten towers constructed to watch over the Adirondack Forest Preserve. The project marked a turning point in New York State's forest protection efforts and showed how technology could be used systematically to prevent forest fires.

The station marks the start of organized forest fire protection in this region, and the tower itself is a tangible reminder of early 20th-century engineering approaches to wilderness management. Visitors can see how the structure worked and understand the role these outposts played in safeguarding the forests.

The climb follows a hiking trail that covers about 2 kilometers with considerable elevation gain, and parking is available at the trailhead. Visitors should prepare for changing mountain weather and wear sturdy shoes, as the path can be wet or uneven depending on the season.

From the top of the tower, visitors can see Great Sacandaga Lake and several peaks of the southern Adirondacks on clear days, a panorama that shows the vast perspective observers once had. The original function was to spot smoke plumes from forest fires across these great distances.

Location: Saratoga County

Inception: 1917

GPS coordinates: 43.37691,-73.97093

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:41